Hillman has built HEPI into arguably the best version of the think tank since it was founded and funded by HEFCE all those years ago. It drives agenda-setting policy underpinned by solid research and analysis and strong, proactive publicity. It’s no wonder Sam Gyimah has just poached its director of policy.
Hillman has fronted major interventions on widening participation, freedom of speech, skills, and part-time students. But he’s never afraid to host more radical progressive opinion on HEPI’s platforms – drawing together thinking from centre-left and centre-right. And the HEPI’s annual Student Academic Experience Survey with Advance HE remains a key barometer of value-for-money even though OfS is now up and running.
Hillman himself remains a leading go-to policy commentator respected for his pithy sound bites as well as insider knowledge of Whitehall and Westminster. He worked closely with his old boss, former Universities Minister David Willetts, on A University Education published last autumn – and which is dedicated to him. It’s one of the must-reads for wonks about HE’s past, present and future.